ALBANY, N.Y. (May 8, 2008) – State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, M.D., has used his emergency powers to summarily suspend the license of a Utica physician based on multiple charges of medical misconduct. A summary suspension of a physician's license precludes the doctor from caring for any patients.

Anthony Nappi, M.D., 80, a psychiatrist whose office is in Utica, is charged with 46 specifications of medical misconduct regarding 11 patients. Dr. Nappi is charged with moral unfitness, willful physical and verbal abuse, gross negligence, gross incompetence, negligence on more than one occasion, incompetence on more than one occasion, breaches of patient confidentiality and failure to maintain records.

A summary suspension of a physician's license is based on the Commissioner's determination that the continued practice of medicine by the physician constitutes an imminent danger to the health of the people of this state. Specifically, it is alleged that Dr. Nappi inappropriately touched female patients, made inappropriate remarks, failed to perform patient assessments or order laboratory tests, and breached patient confidentiality.

The summary suspension is the result of an investigation conducted by the State Department of Health's Office of Professional Medical Conduct.

A hearing on the Department of Health charges has been scheduled for May 15 and 16.

For more information about disciplinary actions taken against physicians licensed in New York State, please visit the physician discipline section of the department's Web site at www.nyhealth.gov.